Rising Stars 2024: David Kosla

David Kosla, 38
Director of field facilities
CSX

Nominator’s quote: “David currently leads a team of 14 managers and 200 craftsmen that maintain fixed assets such as buildings, utilities, and mechanical systems across 23 states and 21,000 miles of track. He is an inspiring leader who has traveled to meet and build relationships with all of his employees.” — Kia Warren, CSX

Education: Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology; MBA, Excelsior College.

Job responsibilities: Managing the safety, operation and financial performance of a team that covers 23 states and more than 21,000 track miles. Overseeing the maintenance and repair of all field infrastructure assets for CSX.

Career path: I joined CSX in 2015 through the mechanical management trainee program. After completing six months of classroom and on-the-job training I was assigned as the mechanical infrastructure manager for the mechanical operations in Selkirk, New York. In 2017, I was reassigned as a capital project manager for mechanical infrastructure based out of Jacksonville. In 2021, I was promoted to senior facility manager of CSX’s export terminals and was responsible both for their maintenance and capital programs. In 2023, I was promoted to my current role as director of field facilities.

How did you end up in the rail industry? After completing my service with the Air Force, I transitioned to a role as an operations supervisor and manager at Netflix DVD. By 2015, the company faced decline due to the growing dominance of streaming services over physical media. Recognizing the need for a more promising future, I attended a career fair at Florida State University, where I connected with CSX. Subsequently, I was chosen to participate in their training program a few months later.

What’s the best advice that you’ve received so far in your career? All challenges or hurdles in our paths represent opportunities. Whether it's organizational change, failure or simply situations we may not agree with, they still offer opportunities for growth and achievement.

What advice would you give someone just starting out in railroading? Embrace saying yes. At a large company like CSX, there are numerous career paths to explore, and you may encounter unexpected or unfamiliar opportunities. By saying yes, you might be pleasantly surprised by where it leads.

What was your first job? My initial professional experience began as a high school work-study job for the National Security Agency. Initially, I served as an administrative assistant before transitioning to an assistant role supporting one of their senior network infrastructure managers.

Share a fun fact about yourself. In 2015, I embarked on an exploration of power generation from plants. The fundamental idea involves harnessing excess sugars produced through photosynthesis as fuel, utilizing the symbiotic environment of aquaponics as the fuel cell. I aspire to further develop this system in the future.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why? Elon Musk. Elon Musk's work in both the fields of space and neuroscience is truly fascinating to me. I would relish the opportunity to engage in a conversation with him, delving into these areas and gaining insight into his driving motivations.

Who has had the most influence on your career? My parents have had a profound influence on shaping both my personality and skills. I see myself as a precise blend of their attributes. Much of who I am, both personally and professionally, stems from the character and skill set I've inherited from them.

Describe a major obstacle in your career and how you surmounted it. The most significant obstacle I've faced as a professional has been in effectively selling my ideas and initiatives. In engineering school, there's often a lack of emphasis on learning how to articulate ideas or concepts to individuals of higher positions or with different mindsets, particularly those with a business mindset. Consequently, I've had to actively develop these communication skills as my career has progressed.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the rail industry today?  Leveraging technology to drive growth in a fluctuating economic environment.